Senior Director of Physician Relations and Strategy

Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care.  Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year. 

Career Opportunities within Kern Medical include many benefits such as: 

• New Hire Premium: +6% of base rate of pay, matched up to 6% if contributed to Deferred Compensation Plan.
• A Comprehensive Benefits Package: includes Holidays, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.

Position: Senior Director of Physician Relations and Strategy

Definition:

Under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer or designee, the Senior Director of Physician Relations and Strategy is responsible for leading physician engagement, physician relations, provider alignment initiatives, strategic partnerships, and organizational growth strategies across Kern Medical. This position serves as a key strategic liaison between administration and the medical staff, supporting physician alignment, recruitment, retention, network development, service line growth, and strategic planning initiatives.

The incumbent leads initiatives related to physician recruitment, physician contracting, provider collaboration, medical group development, and strategic healthcare partnerships while supporting the organization’s long-term operational and strategic goals. This position requires strong relationship management skills, strategic thinking, healthcare business acumen, and the ability to collaborate effectively with physicians, executive leadership, community partners, and external stakeholders.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This senior leadership position plays a critical leadership role in strengthening physician engagement and alignment strategies while supporting organizational growth, strategic planning, and healthcare partnership development. The position serves as a primary administrative resource for physician relations, provider strategy, and strategic growth initiatives.

Essential Functions:

Physician Relations and Engagement

• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, medical staff leadership, physician groups, and affiliated providers.
• Serves as a strategic liaison between administration and physicians to support organizational alignment and physician engagement initiatives.
• Supports physician recruitment, onboarding, retention, and provider integration strategies.
• Collaborates with physician leaders and executive leadership to identify opportunities to improve physician satisfaction, communication, and engagement.
• Assists in resolving physician relations concerns and supports alignment between organizational and medical staff priorities.

Physician Contracting and Provider Alignment

• Leads development, negotiation, and administration of physician agreements, professional services agreements, call coverage agreements, and other provider-related contracts.
• Ensures physician agreements align organizational goals, fair market value principles, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Collaborates with legal counsel, finance, compliance, and operational leaders regarding physician contracting initiatives and provider alignment strategies.
• Evaluates physician partnership opportunities and alignment models to support organizational growth and service line development.

Strategic Planning and Organizational Development

• Supports development and implementation of organizational strategic initiatives aligned with Kern Medical’s mission, vision, and long-term objectives.
• Assists executive leadership in identifying strategic growth opportunities, service line expansion initiatives, and partnership development.
• Conducts market assessments, competitive analysis, and healthcare trend evaluations to inform strategic decision-making.
• Collaborates with operational leaders to align strategic priorities with organizational capabilities and community healthcare needs.
• Supports strategic planning processes and implementation activities across the organization.

Network and Partnership Development

• Supports development and optimization of strategic provider networks and healthcare partnerships.
• Identifies opportunities for collaboration with hospitals, clinics, physician groups, academic partners, and community organizations.
• Assists in evaluating partnership opportunities that improve access, quality, patient outcomes, and organizational growth.
• Represents Kern Medical in strategic partnership discussions, industry meetings, and community collaborations.

Community and Population Health Initiatives

• Supports strategic initiatives focused on underserved populations, community partnerships, care coordination, and innovative care delivery models.
• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to improve healthcare access and health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
• Assists in development of strategies related to enhanced care management, community-based services, and physician-supported outreach initiatives.

Market Analysis and Performance Improvement

• Conducts market research and analyzes healthcare industry trends, physician workforce developments, and strategic opportunities.
• Develops metrics and performance indicators to evaluate physician alignment initiatives and strategic programs.
• Monitors initiative outcomes and provides reports and recommendations to executive leadership.
• Identifies opportunities for operational improvement and strategic growth.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Provides leadership, guidance, and support to assigned staff and strategic initiatives.
• Promotes collaboration, innovation, accountability, and professional development.
• Participates in executive planning activities and organizational leadership initiatives.
• Works collaboratively with clinical, operational, financial, and administrative leaders throughout the organization.

Other Functions

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards:

Option I

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in healthcare administration, business administration, public administration, nursing, public health, or closely related field;

AND

• Three (3) years of management-level experience in healthcare administration, physician relations, strategic planning, physician contracting, business development, healthcare operations, or related healthcare leadership functions within an acute care hospital, healthcare system, medical group, or integrated delivery network.

OR

Option II

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in healthcare administration, business administration, public administration, nursing, public health, or closely related field;

AND

• Five (5) years of management-level experience in healthcare administration, physician relations, strategic planning, physician contracting, business development, healthcare operations, or related healthcare leadership functions within an acute care hospital, healthcare system, medical group, or integrated delivery network.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of healthcare administration and physician relations
• Healthcare strategic planning and organizational development
• Physician contracting principles and provider alignment models
• Healthcare operations, finance, and regulatory compliance
• Medical staff structures and physician engagement strategies
• Healthcare market analysis and business development
• Federal, state, and local healthcare regulations
• Leadership, supervision, and personnel management techniques

Ability to: 

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with physicians, executives, and community stakeholders
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Lead strategic initiatives and organizational change efforts
• Analyze complex healthcare operational and strategic issues
• Develop and present reports, recommendations, and strategic plans
• Negotiate and manage provider-related agreements and partnerships
• Exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality
• Work collaboratively across organizational departments and disciplines

Supplemental:

Dependent upon assignment, applicants may be required to pass an extensive background investigation, and be fingerprinted.  Disqualification for felony, misdemeanor, and traffic offenses will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

All Kern Medical employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers” through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec. 3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2 - Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services.) As Disaster Service Workers, all county employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable following a significant emergency or disaster.

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.